Arsenal learned several lessons on Tuesday night. Mikel Arteta learned that some of his teenage talents aren’t ready and some are still maturing. He also learned a damning lesson about some of his senior stars, who looked all too youthful themselves at times.
For Bruno Guimaraes, it was another lesson in penalties. The Brazilian danced up to his spotkick at the World Cup and missed for Brazil. Yet still he chose to tango with that regret in mind against Fleetwood, before watching his penalty be saved once again. For all the complexities in football, finding the back of the net from 12 yards should not be one of them.
There’s also a striker problem for Arsenal to solve after Kai Havertz struggled yet again.
Havertz had worst game yet vs Fleetwood
Ask Arsenal fans what they’re lacking when Havertz is on the pitch and that may mention every single one of Viktor Gyokeres’ traits. Then ask them what they’re lacking with the latter on the pitch and they may name every single one of Havertz’s traits. Neither are quite right for the Gunners.
Gyokeres is a powerful runner with a thumping finish, but lacks the discipline or technical ability to link play. Havertz is elegant, but all too passive at times.
Logic would suggest that by combining the two, Arteta would have the perfect strike force. The reality, however, is that both looked their worst as Arsenal crashed out of the Carabao Cup in humiliating fashion.
|
Premier League stats 26/27 |
Kai Havertz |
Viktor Gyokeres |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes |
589 |
148 |
|
Goals |
2 |
0 |
|
Touches in opposition’s box per 90 |
5.2 |
4.26 |
|
XG |
2.14 |
0.08 |
|
Chances created per 90 |
0.76 |
4.26 |
The stats are damning for Arteta. On one hand, he has Havertz. The German is getting in the right areas, but underperforming his expected rate of goals. On the other, he has Gyokeres, who is struggling to get in the right areas or get involved in play whatsoever.
Against Fleetwood, however, it was the Swede who came away with a goal – leaving Havertz to wonder whether his place is up for grabs.
He won’t be the only player with that concern, either. Arteta should also drop his version of Kim Kallstrom as soon as possible.
Arteta must axe Kallstrom 2.0
For the most part, Arsenal have got their signings spot on in the last two seasons. Whilst they’re still struggling to solve their goal problem, their backline is still arguably the best in Europe and additions in midfield like Guimaraes deserve plenty of credit when they’re away from the penalty spot.
It’s not all been a success, though. One name that stands out as a bizarre addition is Illan Meslier. The former Leeds United goalkeeper arrived on a free in the summer after falling down to third-choice at Elland Road. A mistake-prone shot-stopper suddenly earned a move to the Premier League champions.
Although he has not featured very often, as expected, the Frenchman did play against Fleetwood and it quickly became evident that he should keep his place in the reserves rather than the spotlight.
That’s not to say there was a significant mistake on his part, but there was a clear and needless drop in quality. If Arsenal wanted a third-choice, then Meslier’s minutes could have gone to a young academy star rather than the man who didn’t get close to a single Fleetwood penalty.
In many ways, it’s reminiscent of Kim Kallstrom’s arrival in 2014. The midfielder played just four times for the Gunners and just one of those came from the start. To this day, he remains one of the strangest signings in recent memory.
Arsene Wenger even admitted that, had he had longer to consider the deal, he would not have signed Kallstrom in 2014. Perhaps Arteta is now thinking the same about Meslier, who could go on to make a similar number of appearances as the former midfielder.
